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Analyzing of Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

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Analyzing of Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet Essay Example
All About Friar Laurence

In the play, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, there are many life changing events that that Romeo and Juliet must face. One character seen guiding them in most of these scenes is Friar Laurence. He is a very important character that helps many other characters out with their problems. Even though he is a Friar, his main role in the play is acting as a mentor for Romeo and Juliet. He is favored by all the other characters as a holy man. He is also well liked by the audience because secretly helps Romeo and Juliet when their parents won’t even pay attention to them. Friar Laurence has two main roles in the play. One is serving as the holy man of Verona. He is viewed as a holy man by most characters in the play. For Romeo and Juliet however, he is viewed as a mentor and someone they can trust and go to for help. “So smile the heavens upon this holy act of that after-hours with sorrow chide us not.”(II. iv. 1-2) This is the only time that Friar Laurence is really seen doing something holy. Most of the rest of the scenes he is in just show him giving Romeo and Juliet advice and finding ways for them to be together, like when he gives Juliet the sleeping potion. Friar Laurence serves as the backbone of the book in a sense. His plans are very well-planned and have good intention. They are the gears that turn the ill-fated tragedy of the play which is the death of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare intended Friar Laurence’s main purpose to be the person who translates Romeo and Juliet‘s fate from the stars, to them. One of the most obvious examples of this is when Romeo kills himself. The friar comes into the tomb about five minutes after. “ Romeo! O, Pale! Who else? What, Paris too? And steeped in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour is guilty of this lamentable chance!”(V. iii. 149-151) If he only came in a little bit earlier, he could have told Romeo that Juliet is not dead. He also could have saved Juliet if he had not

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